USTFCCCA News & Notes
NAIA OTF National Athletes of the Week (April 27)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Here are the NAIA Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Athletes of the Week, as released on Wednesday afternoon by the NAIA National Office.
Men’s Athletes of the Week
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Phemelo Matlhabe, Life (Ga.)
Matlhabe burst onto the scene in his season debut, recording a pair of individual NAIA “A” standards — including a national-leading mark in the 200 meters of 20.50 — and also helping a pair of lightning-quick relay teams secure top-flight times.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Dylan Kucera, Midland (Neb.)
Kucera, a senior from Fremont, Nebraska, had his best meet of the season with new personal bests in the shot put and discus. He won the shot put in 18.35m (60-2½) and was runner-up in the discus in 54.90m (180-1), reestablishing his school record in both events. His mark in the discus reached the NAIA “A” standard, giving him the top standard in three events this season (Kucera also ranks highly in the hammer throw).
Women’s Athletes of the Week
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Giorgia Mameli, Marian (Ind.)
Mameli hit 3 NAIA “A” standards at the Little State Championships and was the Crossroads League Track Athlete of the Week, setting two school records and winning four events. She broke school records in the 100 (11.91) and 200 (24.53) and is now ranked No. 11 nationally in both events.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Brittany Jones, William Carey (Miss.)
Jones was named Championship Top Scorer at the SSAC Women’s Outdoor T&F Championships with 36 points. She scored 28 of those points in field events with a clean sweep of the high jump and long jump, along with a runner-up finish in the triple jump.